THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



and that one of them was fufficient to crufli; the whole ifl-and 

 at one fhot. This led them to inquire of him, what fort of 

 guns we a6lually had in our two (hips. He faid, that though 

 they were but fmall, in comparifon with thofe he had juft 

 defcribed, yet, with fuch as they were, we could, with the 

 greatefl eafe, and at the diftance the fhips were from the 

 Ihore, deftroy the ifland, and kill every foul in it. They, 

 perfevered in their inquiries, to know by what means this 

 could be done; and Omai explained the matter as well as he 

 could. He happened luckily to have a few cartridges in his 

 pocket. Thefe he produced ; the balls, and the gunpowder 

 which was to fet them in motion, were fubmitted to infpec- 

 tion ; and, to fupply the defecfls of his defcription, ,an ap- 

 peal was made to the fenfes of the fpe6lators. It has been 

 mentioned above, that one of the Chiefs had ordered the 

 multitude to form themfelves into a circle. This furnifhed ; 

 Omai with a convenient ftage for his eshibition. In the 

 center of this amphitheatre, the inconfiderable quantity of 

 gunpowder, collecfled from his cartridges, was properly • 

 difpofed upon the ground, and, by means of a bit of burn- 

 ing wood from the oven, where dinner was dreiling, fet on- 

 fire. The fudden blaft, and loud report, the mingled flame 

 and fmoke, that inftantly fucceeded, now filled the^whole 

 aflembly with aftonifhment ; they no longer doubted the ■ 

 tremendous power of our weapons, and gave full credit to 

 all that Omai had faid. 



If it had not been for the terrible ideas they conceived ' 

 of the guns of our (hips, from this fpecimen of their mode 

 of operation, it was thought that they would have detained 

 the gentlemen all night. For Omai afllired them, that, if 

 he and his companions did not return on board the fame 

 day, they might exped that I would fire upon the ifland. 



And 



199 



